The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-07-28

the best OF 1t. lhe passengers all got
out of the cars and began to wander
about in the fields; and what with
laughing and grumbling. and explana-
tons about the accident, they soon be-
came acquainted with each other.
But Mrs Escott did not mingle with
her companions in misfortune. She
walked away by herself. and seeing a
small farm house about half mile dis
tant. concluded to go there and ask for
a glass of milk.
The house was small frame building
with neat flower garden in front; n
vegetable garden at one side enclosed
with Il paling fence. and an orchard at
the back. A woman was drawing water
at a well under IN old oak tree. and
when she heard Mrs. EScOtt's account
of the accident. she invited her very
cordially to enter the house and rest
herself.
The small sitting-room was very
poorly furnished. but every thing was
neat and clean. Mrs. Escott looked
about her with languid interest. hall
smile on her delicate, aristocratic face.
This woman. she thought. probably
found the days all too short for her
needs. She was Il busy woman, Of
course. and had hands and heart for
All the time. The room gaze cTi,lcncc
of this, for on the center table was
work-baSket heaped with garments r.
quiring mending, on a chair lay half
finished yarn sock with the needles i'll
it, and in a cradle in one corner lay
sleeping child of about year old.
Suddenly Mrs. Escott gave slight
start, and a look of surprise came on
her face. She rose, and, crossing the
room, looked earnestly ut the photo
graph of man, which, framed in var
nished pine cones. hung on the opposite
wall. Yes, there could be no mistake;
it was surely the face of Rev. Mr.. Barry,
whose sermon she had found so tedious.
That's my brother. said the woman
of the house in Il tone of pride, rs she
came in with small waiter on which:
was pitcher of rich milk, goblet,
slice of warm bread. and diminu,ive
pat of butter. Hes minister down
to Brentwood, about twenty miles from
here Perhaps you've been there? It's
right smart of a town. Rufus he was
real pleased with it when he first went
there, and mother n me we calculated
he was fixed for life. But lately We
amt been easy in Our minds about
him."
She took the work-basket from the
table, and set down the waiter.
Now YOU can eat real comfortable,
an it'll do you good" she said.
Thank you; and while eat you can
tell me more about your brother. He
is Il minister, you say?'
Yes. Mother n l we made up our
minds from the first that Rufus was cut
out for minister. He seemed to take
to it real natural. II cost something
to fit him for it! Seemed sometimes rs
if We couldn't pull through. You
weuidn't believe how we worked! We
lived down to JonesbOro' then, n
owned our own house. 1t wasn't much
of Il house." with little laugh, ''but
it did well enough for us. l went to
school till | was eleven, N then |
turned in n helped mother sew. That
was all the schooling ever had, for l
never had time to 60 any more, we had
to work and pinch SO to keep Rufe at
college. I've seen the time | didn't
haze a new dress for three years hand
running. But | didn't mind it much,
for never had chance to run around
much, like most young folks. And
Rafe was the best boy ever livedi 1t
wasn't no sacrifice to work for him.
Well, We got him through at last, n he
got a call to Brentwood. First thing he
did was to get married, N to help him
along mother N me we sold the house.
He'd been engaged to Mary Hal
pine for going on four years, an it was
natural that he should want to marry
her soon's he could. Besides, the con-
gregation seemed to think he'd Ought
to be married. Well, then / married,
N came here to live, thinkin' there
warn't ever to be any more trouble for
none Of us. But there amt no telling
about that, is there? Rufe did splendid
at first, n people couldn't praise him
enough, but lately there's been fault
faund, n they don't seem to see that
it's because Rufe's all worn out that he
can't preach us he used to. H. don't
get half his salary, n he's got large
family-fiyc children--an' it's hard TO
keep his head above water. How can
they expect him to preach good ser
mons when he's all run down in health.
N worried most to death about money
matters? l help him all 1 can, but
that amt much. We've got three chill
dren, N Eve mother to take care of,
too. Most can do is to send down
apples an potatoes occasionally. Ny
heart migives me sometimes that Rufe'll
give way in his mind. If he could only
take a rest! But he hasn't the money
to rest on. l saw him one day last
week, II | amt been able to gst his
face out o my mind since; he's so
changed"
She sighed deeply and put her hand
over her eyes moment.
The only thing to do. expect. is to
trust to the Lord" she said, presently.
He knows all about it, n III do what's
best Perhaps l ought mt to have
talked so free to a stranger; but run
on without thinking"
..Ynu ha vn intnrnStad mo ynrr much ,,